I will be the first to admit to my questionable sanity when it comes to shooting. I have used 1/4 minute scopes at mid range matches and have found that I can have a group building the edge of the x ring at 9:00 and one click on the 1/4 minute scope would move me not far enough but 2 clicks and I have movement more that I wanted. Three clicks on an 1/8 minute scope would have put me where I wanted. I am splitting hairs but with the option to make the finer movements I prefer it. As for clicking up or down for range; I come from the Smallbore World with a rear sight that was 15th minute clicks...1/8 minute will be a snap. Please remember I am returning to competitive shooting after an almost 20 year layoff and building on my previous experiences.
As I stated at the start my sanity when it comes to competitive shooting is always in question
I love your attitude and I appreciate you staying civil in this discussion. This quality can be rare on this forum at times and I for one, appreciate it when I encounter it.
I have been shooting competitively for over 40 years; shot my first Fullbore match in 1981 and I was hooked. Fullbore, Palma, High Power and then at the turn of the century I was into Service Rifle. This was all with iron sights. I had other rifles with riflescopes, but not for competition. After Camp Perry in '05, I discovered a burgeoning F-class monthly competition shooting locally. I built an F-class rifle from one of my AR-15s, slapped on a riflescope which I had on hand and went to an F-class match.
At first, I did the same thing that I done up to now: Adjust the sights for every shot and record the settings. After a while I started holding off on the target and stopped adjusting the scope for every shot. When the NRA sanctionned F-class and issued the 1/4 size targets for it, I got a riflescope with greater magnification to try to keep up. I went from 10X, to 20X, to 35X, to 42X, to 50X, to 60X and finally to 80X. After the 20X, the clicks went from 1/4 to 1/8MOA.
When you're talking about watching a group build at the edge of the X-ring at 9:00, I simply move the dot a little further to the right; I do not touch my windage knob. You can and should do that with optics, you really can't do that with iron sights. That's a big difference. After sighters, virtually the only time I will touch the knobs is to add or subtract elevation during a string, as the barrel heats up or cloud cover changes. It is extremely rare for me to touch the windage knob during a string. I have been the unhappy recipient of various 9s and 8s because I cranked the knob the wrong way. I hold off on target instead and use the reticle to keep me on target.
When you get above 20X, you can start reliably holding on target, if your reticle is fine enough (FFP scopes can't do that.) The higher the magnification, the more precise the reticle placement can be on target. I love my 80X with the WFD reticle.
If you believe you can solidly hold on target from prone with a sling, I would suggest you think about higher magnification at the top end. A March 10-60X52 (not the 10-60X56 HM) weighs in at 26 oz, has super IQ, 1/8 clicks and a choice of simple reticles. I would suggest the MTR-2 or (MTR-5 if you're in your 60s. Ask me how I know.) You can also look at the NF Comp 15-55X52 which weighs about the same as the March. You can also look at Sightron and other similar models.
With this type of riflescope, you will be well served in your 25X comfort zone. But you will also have the capability of exploring the use of higher magnification when the conditions are excellent (bunny conditions, trigger pulling exercise.)
